Basement (band)

History

Basement formed in September 2009 in Ipswich, England, after the break-up of pop punk band In This for Fun, which had released The Away from Home EP. The band chose the name Basement simply because they "wanted a short name that didn't mean much." On 17 May 2010, they released their debut EP Songs About the Weather and signed to Run for Cover in August. Their first full-length album, I Wish I Could Stay Here, came out in 2011 via Run For Cover Records, supported by tours including trips to Australia and two American tours with label mates Daylight (now Superheaven).

Before the release of their second album Colourmeinkindness, the band announced a hiatus due to "a number of personal commitments." Colourmeinkindness was released on 23 October and charted at number 188 on the US Billboard 200. The band played their final shows in mid-November. Guitarist Alex Henery later revealed the hiatus was due to vocalist Andrew Fisher wishing to become a certified teacher, requiring a year and a half of school; drummer James Fisher was graduating from Kingston University; and other members were pursuing careers, with Henery working as a videographer in Boston, Massachusetts for Run for Cover.

On 29 January 2014, a tweet on the band's Twitter account simply said "Hi," and the dates "2008–2012" were removed from their biographies, suggesting a return. The band confirmed the hiatus was over later that day and hinted at a summer tour. In June 2014, they announced a new EP, Further Sky, for July release, including two new songs and a cover of Suede's "Animal Nitrate." They toured Australia, Japan, and America between 26 July and 20 August, with all American tour dates sold out, followed by UK shows in London, Leeds, and Manchester in late October with support from Cloakroom and Newmoon.

In an August 2014 interview, Henery noted they were writing material for a new album. Promise Everything was released on 29 January 2016. On 3 February 2017, the band signed to major label Fueled by Ramen.

Musical style and influences

Critics have labeled Basement as alternative rock, emo, post-hardcore, and soft grunge. Their debut EP Songs About the Weather is considered pop punk, while I Wish I Could Stay Here falls under emo, pop punk, and post-hardcore. Colourmeinkindness is described as rock and alternative rock; Further Sky as alternative rock and rock and roll; and Promise Everything as alternative rock. AllMusic's Matt Collar noted the band's sound draws from melodic hardcore punk and later called it noise rock. Basement list influences such as the Ataris, the Promise Ring, Mineral, Braid, Smoking Popes, Jets to Brazil, Tigers Jaw, Man Overboard, Sunny Day Real Estate, Failure, Autolux, Cro-Mags, Stephen Bishop, David Bowie, Hey Mercedes, Radiohead, Jawbreaker, Lifetime, Jimmy Eat World, and Piebald. Their music has inspired Teenage Wrist, Muskets, Birdskulls, One Step Closer, Glare, and Quannnic.